It’s one of Essex’s newest restaurants and staff didn’t know we would be visiting for a review
Matt Lee Senior Multimedia Journalist
12:00, 14 Aug 2025
(Image: Matt Lee/EssexLive)
Essex has a fantastic foodie scene. There is something for everyone with a menu of options that caters to every preference and palette. Medusa, which opened recently, is one of the county’s newest restaurants and it’s perfect for a meal out with food that transports you many miles away.
The cosy restaurant and bar, on Rayleigh Road in Southend, opened earlier this year and is already proving to be a hit. The eatery focuses on serving up the flavours of the Mediterranean and while it may be surrounded by housing, the food certainly does it’s best at mentally transporting you to the Mediterranean.
A head chef with more than three decades of culinary experience leads a team of talented cooks. Their fantastic cooking makes sure the bold, summery flavours of the likes of Italy, Greece, Turkey and Spain are brought to Essex.
It’s clear to see that every dish is produced with expert care and attention. The mixed grill dish (£22.95), including chicken shish, lamb shish, lamb chop, chicken wing and adana kebab, is brilliantly flavoured with spiced meats packed full of taste-bud-tantalising sensations. It comes with a hearty side of rice and salad too.
The brilliant mixed grill at Medusa(Image: Matt Lee/EssexLive)
Other fantastic dishes include the breaded crab claws (£6.90) to start. On my visit I was also given deliciously soft and tasty bread with dips, and after paying were also offered complimentary shots too.
The restaurant has a fantastic open-air area for eating, ideal during the summer and a further example of how they do their best to bring overseas eating to Essex. There’s also plenty of space inside their main restaurant area which is decorated nicely with bright lights, floral features and a number of mirrors around the room.
The decorations certainly liven up the room with their vibrant colours. The impressive entrance corridor and circular Medusa floral features are also both that will make a nice backdrop to photos too.
Medusa say that each plate tells a story – from delicate olive oil dishes and perfectly grilled seafood to aromatic herbs and handcrafted meze. But their menu of dishes is certainly all on the same page in offering a variety of brilliant items.
This article is part of EssexLive’s series Essex Eats where a member of our team reviews an independent food business in the county. We don’t tell the business we’re coming and we don’t tell them who we are while we’re there. Every meal for EssexEats is paid for by us and not gifted. Check back every Thursday and Saturday for our top pick that week of a great food spot in Essex.
What’s your favourite place to eat in the county? Let us know for a chance to have it featured on Essex Eats
Dining and Cooking